Revised: October 2018

Federal Pro Se Clinic

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA: WESTERN DIVISION

 How to Submit an Ex Parte Application 

Ex Parte Applications are Generally Disfavored

Ex parte applications should be used only if there is a genuine emergency. Most courts do not like ex
parte applications because they create a risk that the opposing party will not have an adequate
opportunity to present his or her arguments to the judge. As a result, most ex parte applications are
denied. If you are asking the Court to decide an issue that is not time-sensitive, you should file a noticed
motion and set a hearing date. This will give all the parties in your lawsuit an opportunity to file briefs and
argue the issue. If you want to file a motion, please see Public Counsel’s guide on “How to Submit a
Motion.”

What is an Ex Parte Application?

An ex parte application is an urgent request to the Court. “Ex parte” means “by one party.” An ex
parte application differs from a motion because it does not require you to set a hearing date.

What Do You Need to Do BEFORE You File an Ex Parte Application?

Before filing an ex parte application, you must make a reasonable, good faith effort to call the
attorneys for all the other parties in your lawsuit – or, if the parties are not represented, you must try to
call the parties themselves. In your phone call, you must discuss the following:

1) You must tell the opposing attorney (or unrepresented party) three things:
a. That you will file an ex parte application with the Court,
b. The date on which you intend to file the ex parte application, and
c. The issue you will raise in your ex parte application.

2) You must also ask the opposing attorney (or

Remember: The Local Rules require you to
unrepresented party) if he or she objects to your ex make a “reasonable, good faith effort” to call
parte application. If he objects, you must ask him why opposing counsel (or unrepresented parties)
he is objecting so that you can tell the Court this and discuss the points listed on this page.
Make sure to take notes on any conversations
information. you have so that you can fill out your
declaration form accurately.
3) You should confirm you have the opposing attorney’s
(or unrepresented party’s) name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. You will need to
provide those to the Court in a declaration.
Federal Pro Se Clinic  Roybal Courthouse  255 East Temple Street, Suite 170  Los Angeles, CA 90012  (213) 385-2977 ext. 270
Open on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By appointment only.

THE FEDERAL PRO SE CLINIC IS A PROJECT OF PUBLIC COUNSEL, A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM.

Guide Prepared by Public Counsel.

© 2012, 2013 Public Counsel. All rights reserved. 1
 Revised: October 2018

How Do You File an Ex Parte Application?

To file an ex parte application in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, you will
need to prepare the following documents:

1) Ex Parte Application
2) Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Ex Parte Application
3) Declaration in Support of Ex Parte Application
4) (Proposed) Order Granting Ex Parte Application
5) Proof of Service by Mail

A sample of each document is included in this packet.

Description of Each Document

1) Ex Parte Application
The ex parte application explains to the Court what you are asking the Court to do and why the
Court needs to act on an emergency basis. In your application, you must state that you contacted
all the opposing attorneys (or unrepresented parties) and notified them that you would be filing
an ex parte application.

2) Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Ex Parte Application

The memorandum of points and authorities includes any legal authorities and arguments that
support your ex parte application. The memorandum of points and authorities must not exceed
25 pages.

3) Declaration in Support of Ex Parte Application

A declaration is a sworn statement to the Court where you write the facts that support your ex
parte application.

4) (Proposed) Order Granting Ex Parte Application

This is an order for the judge to sign if he or she wants to grant your ex parte application. You
write this order as if you were the judge. You do not sign the proposed order—instead, you leave
a space for the judge’s signature.

5) Proof of Service by Mail

In this document, you or someone else will swear to the Court that you have mailed a copy of the
ex parte application to the opposing counsel or unrepresented party.

Federal Pro Se Clinic  Roybal Courthouse  255 East Temple Street, Suite 170  Los Angeles, CA 90012  (213) 385-2977 ext. 270
Open on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By appointment only.

THE FEDERAL PRO SE CLINIC IS A PROJECT OF PUBLIC COUNSEL, A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM.

2
 Revised: October 2018

Formatting Your Ex Parte Application

By following the instructions below, you will comply with the format requirements of the Local
Rules for the Central District of California:

1) Pleading Paper: Ex parte applications must be written on pleading paper. “Pleading paper” is letter-
sized (8.5” x 11”) paper that has the numbers 1-28 typed down the left-hand side. You can download a
template for pleading paper in Microsoft Word format from Public Counsel’s website:
 Go to http://www.publiccounsel.org/featured?id=0003
 Find “MS Word Pleading Paper” in the list of forms. You can also download a caption page by
clicking “MS Word Pleading Paper Caption Page.”

2) Font and Margins: 14 pt size font (suggested fonts:

Times New Roman or Arial); 1-inch margins. 1 Name
2 Address Line 1
Address Line 2
3
3) Name and Contact Information: Starting on Line 1,
Phone Number
4 Plaintiff in Pro Per
5
write your name, address, and phone number. Write 6
7
“Plaintiff in Pro Per” or “Defendant in Pro Per” 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
9
underneath your personal information. 10 Plaintiff’s Name, Case No.: CV 1-1 PA (SSx)
11 Plaintiff,
12 vs. Ex Parte Application for
Defendant’s Name, Continuance of Hearing on
13
4) Line 8 or below: Type the name of the court (UNITED 14
Defendant. Motion to Dismiss

STATES DISTRICT COURT). On the next line, write the

15
16
district name (CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA). 17
18
John Doe, the Plaintiff in this case, hereby asks this court

19 ex parte to continue the hearing on Defendant’s Motion to

20 Dismiss, currently set for June 1, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
5) Party Names: Below the name of the court and 21
22 Plaintiff contacted opposing counsel and informed her of
district, write the names of the plaintiff and the 23
24 this ex parte request. (See Decl. ¶ 3.) Opposing counsel
defendant(s). 25
26
indicated that she would not oppose Plaintiff’s application.
27
28
6) Case Number: Your case number goes to the right of Ex Parte Application 1

the party names. Be sure to include all of the letters

that make up the judges’ initials.

7) Title of Document: Under the Case Number, write the title of your document. For example, if you are
asking the Court to move a hearing date for a motion to dismiss, your title would be, “Ex Parte
Application for Continuance of Hearing on Motion to Dismiss.”

8) Date and Signature: When you have finished writing your ex parte application or supporting document,
write the date, your signature and your name.

Federal Pro Se Clinic  Roybal Courthouse  255 East Temple Street, Suite 170  Los Angeles, CA 90012  (213) 385-2977 ext. 270
Open on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By appointment only.

THE FEDERAL PRO SE CLINIC IS A PROJECT OF PUBLIC COUNSEL, A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM.

3
 Revised: October 2018

9) Footer and Page Numbers: Type the title of your document in the footer. Be sure to number every
page.

Filing and Serving Your Ex Parte Application

When you have completed your ex parte application, you must file it with the Civil Intake Division
of the courthouse in which the judge who is hearing your ex parte application is located. File 1 original
and 2 copies of each document with the Civil Intake Division. In addition, send 1 copy of each document to
the opposing counsel or unrepresented party by mail on the same day that you file.

You may file your ex parte application with the Court in person or by mail. Keep in mind that
mailing your ex parte application may delay the date on which it is filed. The addresses for the Civil Intake
Division for the Central District of California courthouses are as follows:

LOS ANGELES SANTA ANA RIVERSIDE

United States Courthouse United States Courthouse United States Courthouse
Central District of California Central District of California Central District of California
255 East Temple St., Ste TS-134 Southern Division Eastern Division
Los Angeles, CA 90012 411 West Fourth St., Ste 1053 3470 Twelfth St., Rm. 134
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4516 Riverside, CA 92501

Federal Pro Se Clinic  Roybal Courthouse  255 East Temple Street, Suite 170  Los Angeles, CA 90012  (213) 385-2977 ext. 270
Open on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By appointment only.

THE FEDERAL PRO SE CLINIC IS A PROJECT OF PUBLIC COUNSEL, A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM.

4
 1
________________________(Full Name)
2
________________________(Email Address)
3
________________________(Address Line 1)
4
________________________(Address Line 2)
5
________________________(Phone Number)
6
________________ in Pro Per
(indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)
7
8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
________________________, Case No.: ____________________
11
Plaintiff,
12 ______________________’s
vs. (indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)
13
________________________ EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR
14 _______________________________
________________________
15 _______________________________
________________________,
16 _______________________________
Defendant(s).
17 _______________________________
18
19
20 TO THE HONORABLE COURT:
21 I, (name) , the □ Plaintiff □ Defendant
22
in this case, hereby apply to the Court ex parte for (describe your urgent request):
23
24 _________________________________________________________________
25
_________________________________________________________________
26
_________________________________________________________________
27
28 Revised: April 2012
Form prepared by Public Counsel
© 2012 Public Counsel. All rights reserved. 1
Ex Parte Application
 1
I contacted the opposing counsel/unrepresented party and informed him or
2
her of this ex parte request. (See Decl. ¶ 3.) Opposing counsel/unrepresented
3
4 party:
5
□ indicated that he or she would oppose the ex parte application.
6
Opposing counsel/unrepresented party said that his or her reasons
7
8 for opposing the ex parte application are:
9
_______________________________________________________
10
11
_______________________________________________________

12 _______________________________________________________
13
_______________________________________________________
14
15 _______________________________________________________

16 _______________________________________________________
17
_______________________________________________________
18
19 □ indicated that he or she would not oppose the ex parte application.
20 □ was unreachable. I made the following unsuccessful attempts to
21
reach opposing counsel/unrepresented party: ___________________
22
23 _______________________________________________________
24
_______________________________________________________
25
_______________________________________________________
26
27
28
2
Ex Parte Application
 1
□ other. (Explain.)_________________________________________
2
_______________________________________________________
3
4 _______________________________________________________
5
_______________________________________________________
6
_______________________________________________________
7
8 _______________________________________________________
9
_______________________________________________________
10
11
_______________________________________________________

12 _______________________________________________________
13
_______________________________________________________
14
15 This ex parte application is based upon a Memorandum of Points and

16 Authorities, Declaration in Support, the complete files and records in this action,
17
and upon such oral and documentary evidence as may be allowed at the hearing of
18
19 this motion.
20
DATED: ___________________________
21
22 By: ______________________________
(sign)
23
______________________________
24 (print name)

25 ________________ in Pro Per

(indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)
26
27
28
3
Ex Parte Application
 1
________________________(Full Name)
2
________________________(Email Address)
3
________________________(Address Line 1)
4
________________________(Address Line 2)
5
________________________(Phone Number)
6
________________ in Pro Per
7 (indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)

8
9
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
10 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
11
12 ________________________, Case No.: ____________________

13 Plaintiff,
MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND
14 vs.
AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF
15 ________________________
EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR
16 ________________________
________________________________
17 ________________________,
Defendant(s). ________________________________
18
________________________________
19
20
21
MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
I. Introduction
22 (Include a brief summary of what you are asking the Court to do in this ex parte application and why. Be sure to
tell the Court why this request is urgent and cannot be dealt with in a regularly noticed motion.)
23
__________________________________________________________________
24
__________________________________________________________________
25
__________________________________________________________________
26
__________________________________________________________________
27
__________________________________________________________________
28
Revised: April 2012 _______
Form prepared by Public Counsel
© 2012 Public Counsel. All Rights Reserved. Page Number

Memorandum of Points and Authorities

 1
II. Factual and Procedural History
2
(Include a brief statement of the factual and procedural history of this case as relevant to this ex parte application.)
3
__________________________________________________________________
4
__________________________________________________________________
5
__________________________________________________________________
6
__________________________________________________________________
7
__________________________________________________________________
8
__________________________________________________________________
9 __________________________________________________________________
10 __________________________________________________________________
11 __________________________________________________________________
12 __________________________________________________________________
13 __________________________________________________________________
14 __________________________________________________________________
15 __________________________________________________________________
16 __________________________________________________________________
17 __________________________________________________________________
18 __________________________________________________________________
19 __________________________________________________________________

20
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
21
__________________________________________________________________
22
__________________________________________________________________
23
__________________________________________________________________
24
__________________________________________________________________
25
__________________________________________________________________
26
__________________________________________________________________
27
28

_______
Page Number

Memorandum of Points and Authorities

 1
III. Argument
2 (Explain the legal basis for the ruling you are asking the Court to make, with citations to relevant law, such as the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, statutes, case law, and local rules, where applicable. The argument should show
3 the Court how these legal authorities, when applied to the facts of your case, indicate that the Court should rule in
your favor.)
4
__________________________________________________________________
5
__________________________________________________________________
6
__________________________________________________________________
7
__________________________________________________________________
8
__________________________________________________________________
9
__________________________________________________________________
10 __________________________________________________________________
11 __________________________________________________________________
12 __________________________________________________________________
13 __________________________________________________________________
14 __________________________________________________________________
15 __________________________________________________________________
16 __________________________________________________________________
17 __________________________________________________________________
18 __________________________________________________________________
19 __________________________________________________________________
20 __________________________________________________________________

21 __________________________________________________________________

22
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
23
__________________________________________________________________
24
__________________________________________________________________
25
__________________________________________________________________
26
__________________________________________________________________
27
__________________________________________________________________
28

_______
Page Number

Memorandum of Points and Authorities

 1
__________________________________________________________________
2
__________________________________________________________________
3
__________________________________________________________________
4
__________________________________________________________________
5
__________________________________________________________________
6
__________________________________________________________________
7
__________________________________________________________________
8
__________________________________________________________________
9 __________________________________________________________________
10 __________________________________________________________________
11 __________________________________________________________________
12 __________________________________________________________________
13 __________________________________________________________________
14 __________________________________________________________________
15 __________________________________________________________________
16 __________________________________________________________________
17 __________________________________________________________________
18 __________________________________________________________________
19 __________________________________________________________________

20
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
21
__________________________________________________________________
22
__________________________________________________________________
23
__________________________________________________________________
24
__________________________________________________________________
25
__________________________________________________________________
26
__________________________________________________________________
27
28

_______
Page Number

Memorandum of Points and Authorities

 1
IV. Conclusion
2
For the reasons stated above, this Court should grant the ex parte
3
4 application.
5
6
DATED: __________________________
7
8
Respectfully submitted,
9
10 By: ______________________________
(signature)
11
12 ______________________________
(name)
13
________________ in Pro Per
14 (indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

_______
Page Number

Memorandum of Points and Authorities

 1
________________________(Full Name)
2
________________________(Email Address)
3
________________________(Address Line 1)
4
________________________(Address Line 2)
5
________________________(Phone Number)
6
________________ in Pro Per
7 (indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)

8
9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
10 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

11
_____________________________, Case No.: ____________________
12
Plaintiff,
13
vs. DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF
14 EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR
_____________________________
15 _______________________________
_____________________________
16 _______________________________
_____________________________,
17 _______________________________
Defendant(s).
18
19
I, (name) __________________________________, declare as follows:
20
21 1. I am the □ Plaintiff □ Defendant in the above-entitled case.
22
2. I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and, if called as a
23
witness, I could and would competently testify thereto.
24
25 3. I contacted the opposing counsel/unrepresented party on
26
_____________ (date) to give notice that I would be filing this ex parte
27
28 application.
Revised: April 2012 _______
Form prepared by Public Counsel Page Number
© 2012 Public Counsel. All Rights Reserved.
Declaration
 1
4. The contact information of the opposing counsel/unrepresented party
2
is as follows:
3
4 Opposing Counsel/Unrepresented Party 1
5 Name: __________________________________________________
6 Phone number: ___________________________________________
7 Address: ________________________________________________
8 _______________________________________________________
9 Email address: ___________________________________________
10
Opposing Counsel/Unrepresented Party 2
11
12 Name: __________________________________________________
13 Phone number: ___________________________________________
14 Address: ________________________________________________
15 _______________________________________________________
16 Email address: ___________________________________________
17
5. Opposing counsel/unrepresented party informed me that he or she:
18
19 □ will oppose the ex parte application. Opposing counsel/unrepresented
20 party said that his or her reasons for opposing the ex parte application
21
are:
22
23 _______________________________________________________
24 _______________________________________________________
25
_______________________________________________________
26
27 _______________________________________________________
28
_______
Page Number

Declaration
 1
□ will not oppose the ex parte application.
2
□ was unreachable. I made the following unsuccessful attempts to reach
3
4
the opposing counsel/unrepresented party: ____________________

5
_______________________________________________________

6
_______________________________________________________

7 _______________________________________________________

8 _______________________________________________________

9 _______________________________________________________

10 _______________________________________________________

11 ¶#___. ___________________________________________________________

12 __________________________________________________________________

13 __________________________________________________________________
14 __________________________________________________________________
15 __________________________________________________________________
16 __________________________________________________________________
17 __________________________________________________________________
18 __________________________________________________________________
19 ¶#___. ___________________________________________________________
20 __________________________________________________________________
21 __________________________________________________________________
22 __________________________________________________________________
23 __________________________________________________________________
24 __________________________________________________________________
25 __________________________________________________________________
26
27
28
_______
Page Number

Declaration
 1
¶#___. ___________________________________________________________
2
__________________________________________________________________
3
__________________________________________________________________
4
__________________________________________________________________
5
__________________________________________________________________
6
__________________________________________________________________
7
__________________________________________________________________
8
__________________________________________________________________
9
¶#___. ___________________________________________________________
10
__________________________________________________________________
11
__________________________________________________________________
12
__________________________________________________________________
13
__________________________________________________________________
14
__________________________________________________________________
15
__________________________________________________________________
16
__________________________________________________________________
17
18 I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

19 Executed on __________________, in _____________________________.

(date of signing) (city, state of signing)

20
21 ______________________________
(signature)

22
______________________________
23 (name)

24
________________ in Pro Per
(indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)
25
26
27
28
_______
Page Number

Declaration
 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

________________________, Case No.: ____________________

10
11 Plaintiff,
vs. (PROPOSED) ORDER GRANTING
12
________________________ EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR
13
________________________ _______________________________
14
________________________, _______________________________
15
Defendant(s). _______________________________
16
_______________________________
17
18
Having considered the □ Plaintiff’s □ Defendant’s Ex Parte
19
20 Application and finding good cause therefore,

21 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Ex Parte Application for

22 __________________________________________________________________
23 __________________________________________________________________
24 is GRANTED.
25
Dated: ________________ Signed: ______________________________
26
27 Hon. ________________________
(Judge’s name)

28 Revised: April 2012

Form prepared by Public Counsel
© 2012 Public Counsel. All Rights Reserved.

1
(Proposed) Order Granting Ex Parte Application
 1
________________________(Full Name)
2
________________________(Address Line 1)
3
________________________(Address Line 1)
4
________________________(Address Line 2)
5
________________________(Phone Number)
6
________________ in Pro Per
7 (indicate Plaintiff or Defendant)

8
9
10
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
11
________________________, Case No.: ____________________
12
Plaintiff,
13 PROOF OF SERVICE BY MAIL
vs.
14
________________________
15
________________________
16
________________________
17
________________________
18
________________________
19 ________________________
20 ________________________,
21 Defendant(s).
22
23
I, ___________________________, declare as follows:
(name of person serving documents)
24
25 My address is _______________________________________________
26 _______________________________________________, which is located in the
27 county where the mailing described below took place.
28

Revised: April 2012

Form prepared by Public Counsel 1
© Public Counsel. All Rights Reserved. Proof of Service by Mail
 1
On , I served the document(s) described as:
(date of mailing)
2
3 1) Ex Parte Application for ______________________________________
4 2) Memorandum of Points and Authorities
5 3) Declaration in Support of Ex Parte Application
6 4) (Proposed) Order
7 on all interested parties in this action by placing a true and correct copy thereof in
8 a sealed envelope, with first-class postage prepaid thereon, and deposited said
9 envelope in the United States mail at or in ____________________________,
(city and state of mailing)
10 addressed to:
11 __________________________ (name) _______________________________________ (name)

12 __________________________ (address) _______________________________________ (address)

13 __________________________ (address) _______________________________________ (address)

14 __________________________ (address) _______________________________________ (address)

15
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
16
17
Executed on ___________________ at ____________________________.
(date) (city and state of signing)
18
19 ____________________________
(sign)
20 ____________________________
(print name)
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

2
Proof of Service by Mail
DO NOT USE THIS PAGE

1
Proof of Service by Mail